In a Sunburned Country

Bryson begins in Sydney and crosses the continent on the long-distance train to Perth, then explores Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, the Outback, Alice Springs and the great red rock of Uluru, and the tropical coast of Queensland. Along the way he describes the box jellyfish, venomous snakes, spiders and crocodiles with a mixture of fascination and terror, and wonders at how little the world pays attention to this extraordinary place.

Between the comic episodes, Bryson tells the stories of explorers who vanished in the desert, the strange history of the country's capital and the remarkable natural history of the continent. He is respectful about the injustices suffered by Aboriginal Australians, though some readers feel this subject deserved more space. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his self-deprecating humour makes even long drives entertaining. This edition includes an appendix on the Sydney Olympics.

Funny, curious and affectionate, one of the most popular books about Australia. Readers who have never been to Australia will finish it wanting to go, and those who have will recognize much of what Bryson describes with a smile. About 352 pages in the Broadway paperback.